Buckle



(No Model.)

F. H.- LOVELESS. BUCKLE Patented June 3, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRED H. LOVELESS, OF LAFAYETTE, INDIANA.

BUCKLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 429,137, dated June 3, 1890.

Application filed May 3, 1889. Serial No. 309,433. (No model.)

To wZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED I-I. LovELEss, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lafayette, in the county of Tippecanoe and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Buckles, of which the following is a specification.

My said invention relates to that class of buckles which clamp the strap passing through them at any desired point, and are commonly used on suspenders for wearingapparel and other suitable uses. Said invention will be first fully described, and then particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof, and on which similar letters of reference indicate similar parts, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a buckle embodying my invention, a fragment of a suspender being shown in connection therewith by means of dotted lines, thus illustrating its use; Fig. 2, a central sectional view thereof on the dotted line 2 2 in Fig.1, on an enlarged scale; Fig. 3, a View similar to Fig. 2, but with the clamping-plate swung apart from the main frame of the structure; Fig. 4, aview similar to Fig. 1, but showing a wire clamp instead of the plate; Fig. 5, a central section thereof on the dotted line 5 5, and Fig. 6 a sectional view looking upwardly from the dotted line 6 (3.

In said drawings, the portion marked A represents the frame of the buckle, B a toothed bar thereon, and O the swinging clamp.

The frame A is preferably made of wire, and all in one piece. To its upper portion the clamp O is secured by a hinge-like connection, and at its lower end it is provided with a hook a, for the ring carrying the susponder-ends.

The toothed bar B is secured to the sides of the frame A midway or thereabout of said frame, and with its toothed or serrated face arranged to engage with the strap or web of the suspenders or other article when in use.

The clamp portion 0, I prefer to make of sheet metal, thus leaving a plain flat surface upon which the name, location, &c., of the manufacturer or dealer can be inscribed or afiixed. At the upper end it is hinged to the frame A, preferably by being bent partially or wholly around the transverse upper bar of said frame, as shown. At the point adjacent to the toothed or serrated bar B it is provided with-a depression into which the engaging edge of said bar will partially extend, or force the fabric to be clamped, thus holding said fabric much more firmly than would be possible if it were forced against a plane surface. At its lower end it is curved, as best shown at 0 Fig. 3, to pass over and engage with the lower transverse bar of said frame A. It should be of thin spring metal, and thus adapted to engage sufficiently at this point to remain secure without other fastening. Small knobs c serve as handles by means of which to effect a disengagement of these parts. A tongue 0' is extended out to near the point of the hook a to serve as a guard for the ring placed in said hook. Being of spring metal this tongue will yield readily when force is applied and permit said ring to be inserted or removed, but will effectually prevent its accidental displacement.

Figs. 4, 5, and '6 show the same invention, in which wire, bent into proper form, is substituted for sheet metal for the clamp.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, in a buckle, of the frame A, the bar B extending transversely thereof and constituting one jaw of the clamp, and the portion C constituting the other jaw of the clamp hinged at one edge to one crossbar of the frame and formed on its opposite edge to engage with the cross-bar of said frame opposite that on which it is hinged, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of the frame A, having hook a, the serrated bar B, the clamp O, hinged to said frame and provided with engaging hook-points c and handles or knob s c, substantially as shown and described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, at Lafayette, Indiana, this 29th day of April, A. D. 1889.

- FRED H. LOVELESS. [L. s] 'itnesses:

JOHN OPPENHEIMER, L. W. LovELEss. 

